"When Doves Cry" (1984)

The heart of the Purple Rain soundtrack and the biggest hit of 1984, "When Doves Cry" showed how experimental pop music could get, making the most mainstream moment in America conform to the avant-garde. With no bass line and Prince wailing over guitar, synth and drum machine, "When Doves Cry" sounds as cold as a tense relationship can feel. His engineer recalls that the artist, who played every instrument on the track, instantly knew the impact the single would have on music. "Nobody would have the balls to do this," the Purple One reportedly told the engineer. "You just wait – they'll be freaking."